Shell catcher for guns

ABSTRACT

A shell catcher for guns that prevents empty shells from dropping to the ground when being ejected from the receiver opening, comprising a retaining member pivotally mounted on a base, and which base is positioned on the receiver of the gun adjacent to the opening. The retaining member can be pivoted away from the opening to permit the shooting of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;doubles&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; in the normal manner, at which time the empty shells are not retained. This device can be adapted to either a Right-Hand or a Left-Hand gun.

United States Patent 191 Petersen May 6,1975

[ SHELL CATCHER FOR GUNS [76] Inventor: Clarence C. Petersen, 2221 Ashland Ave., Racine, Wis. 53403 [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 401,686

[52] [1.8. CI. 42/1 T [51] Int. Cl. F41c 27/00 [58] Field of Search 42/1 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,387 4/[963 Browning 42/] T 3,153,981 10/1964 Brass 3,733,728 5/1973 Kuslich 42/1 T Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney, Agent, or FirmAxel H. Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A shell catcher for guns that prevents empty shells from dropping to the ground when being ejected from the receiver opening, comprising a retaining member pivotally mounted on a base, and which base is positioned on the receiver of the gun adjacent to the opening. The retaining member can be pivoted away from the opening to permit the shooting ofdoubles" in the normal manner, at which time the empty shells are not retained. This device can be adapted to either a Right- Hand or a Left-Hand gun.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY ems SHEET 2 BF 2 SHELL CATCI-IER FOR GUNS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention concerns a device which is mounted on a gun for the purpose of preventing empty shells from being dropped to the ground when being ejected from the gun.

2. Description of the Prior Art Presently-available shell catchers are designed for either Right-Hand or Left-Hand guns, and are not interchangeable. They must be removed for doubles" shooting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a base member secured to the side wall of the gun adjacent the receiver opening. A shell retainer is pivotally mounted on the base member to intercept the empty shell, and to prevent it dropping to the ground, thus saving it for reloading. An object is to provide a shell retainer that can be pivoted from the opening when shooting doubles, permitting the shells to drop to the ground, and to be mounted on either a Right-Hand or Left-Hand gun. Another object is to prevent loss of shells which, if they should drop to the ground, become the property of the club where the shooting takes place.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the shell catcher.

FIG. 2 is an edge view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the catcher shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken at 44 of FIG. 1, and showing the shell retainer member in two positions; one being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken at 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the side of the receiver of a Left-Hand gun, with an empty shell in the ejected position shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 7 is a section taken at 77 of FIG. 6 and showing, in dotted lines, an empty shell being ejected, and a loaded shell being inserted.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, but conceming a Right-Hand gun.

FIG. 9 is a section taken at 9-9 of FIG. 8, and showing an adhesive means of securing the catcher to the wall of the receiver portion of the gun.

The catcher as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, comprises a base 10 of metal in this instance, and of a suitable thickness. A front wall 12 and a rear wall 14 extend perpendicularly to the base 10. The shell retainer 16 comprises a cylindrical shaft portion 18 which can be in substantial contact with the surface of base 10. Portion 18 extends forwardly from wall 14 and terminates at wall 12 in an arm 20 which extends substantially parallel to wall 12 and in close proximity thereto. Arm 20 is of a suitable length and terminates in a rearwardly-extending finger 22. A downwardly offset portion 24 is provided at the rearwardly-directed end of finger 22 to assure that the ejected shell will be retained until grasped by the fingers. A pair of guides 26 and 28 are formed integrally with the base 10 to contain portion 18 in a pivotal manner on the base 10. It is to be understood that a single guide of a suitable length may be employed. A notch 30 in wall 12 permits axial insertion of shell retainer 16 in place in the guides 26 and 28. Inwardly-offset portions 32 and 34 provide the locking or position-retaining means to engage arm 20 in either position as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 8.

FIG. 6 shows a fragment of the receiver of a Left- Hand gun and indicated as 36. A receiver opening 38 permits the insertion or ejection of shells. A loaded shell 40 is shown by dotted lines in FIG. 7 in the process of being inserted. An empty shell 42 is also shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 in the process of being ejected. In this instance, the catcher is mounted as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, on the wall of the receiver 36 adjacent to the lower edge of the longitudinal receiver opening 38, and in a position to permit the body of shells 40 and 42 to be inserted or withdrawn between portion 22 and the lower edge 44 of opening 38. The method of mounting the base 10 on the wall of the receiver 36 in this instance, is by means of a material 46 having an adhesive on both surfaces of a tape; one side of the adhesive being in contact with the base 10 with the other side of the adhesive being in contact with the surface of the receiver 36. It is to be understood that other suitable means of mounting the base 10 on the receiver can be employed; such as by means of machine screws.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 which show a Left-Hand gun, the shell retainer 16 can be pivoted downwardly about the axis of portion 18 as shown in dotted lines, to permit insertion of shell 40, and then pivoted upwardly to the position shown. When the shell 42 is being ejected, it will assume the position as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, and thus be retained against dropping to the ground. The shell 42 can then be grasped by the fingers and withdrawn.

When the catcher is mounted on a Right-Hand gun, as in FIG. 8, the shell retainer 16 is pivoted to the opposite position of base 10 relative to that shown in FIG. 6. The catcher will then function in the same manner as indicated with respect to FIG. 6.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a gun having a receiver portion, said receiver portion having a loading and ejecting opening therein, a shell catcher affixed to said receiver portion adjacent to said loading and ejecting opening and comprising a base, a shell retainer having a shaft portion defined by a fore-and-aft axis and pivoted on said base, said shaft portion terminating forwardly in an arm extending laterally relative to said shaft, said arm terminating in a rearwardly-extending finger portion.

2. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 1, in which said base is provided with a guide integral therewith and confining said shaft portion for rotation therein.

3. A shell catcher as set forth in claim I, in which said base terminates in forwardly and rearwardly-positioned walls extending substantially normal to said base, and said shafi portion extending between said walls.

4. A shell catcher as set forth in claim I, in which said rearwardly-extending finger portion terminates in a portion ofiset from said finger portion in the direction of said shaft portion and substantially parallel thereto.

5. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 3 in which said freedom of pivoting of said shell retainer at the extreme forwardly-positioned wall has offset portions at oppositions of said retainer by engagement of said arm posed terminal edges thereof directed toward said rearwith said portions.

wardly-positioned wall to provide means to reduce 

1. In a gun having a receiver portion, said receiver portion having a loading and ejecting opening therein, a shell catcher affixed to said receiver portion adjacent to said loading and ejecting opening and comprising a base, a shell retainer having a shaft portion defined by a fore-and-aft axis and pivoted on said base, said shaft portion terminating forwardly in an arm extending laterally relative to said shaft, said arm terminating in a rearwardly-extending finger portion.
 2. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 1, in which said base is provided with a guide integral therewith and confining said shaft portion for rotation therein.
 3. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 1, in which said base terminates in forwardly and rearwardly-positioned walls extending substantially normal to said base, and said shaft portion extending between said walls.
 4. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 1, in which said rearwardly-extending finger portion terminates in a portion offset from said finger portion in the direction of said shaft portion and substantially parallel thereto.
 5. A shell catcher as set forth in claim 3 in which said forwardly-positioned wall has offset portions at opposed terminal edges thereof directed toward said rearwardly-positioned wall to provide means to reduce freedom of pivoting of said shell retainer at the extreme positions of said retainer by engagement of said arm with said portiOns. 